After our trip to France this summer, I wanted to send a little giftie to my french family. What says thank you more than a big box of crazy assorted Halloween candy- you know the severed-gummy fingers and the wax vampire teeth that then become chewing gum? The girls and I had a blast picking out all sorts of junk to send.
When I tried to mail it from the base, I was astounded at the cost. I don't know why it was so pricey. Maybe packages are routed through NY first before they are sent to Europe? For the price, it seemed the box could go around the world a few times before reaching its final destination. Anyway....and read carefully for the funny part of the following thought process....I thought, "It might be faster/easier if I send it through the Italian post." (Did you catch it?)
So, off we went- now that I am a pro, I knew when they would be open.
When we walked in, there was a number dispensing ticker tape, but I didn't take a number because we were the only ones in the post office. Minutes passed, and we were STILL the only ones waiting in line. There were 3 clerks at their stations all of them shifting papers and looking busy.
One woman glanced up at me from the end of the office several times. We waited patiently.
The woman finally stood up, walked all the way down to my end of the office, and exited the glass parition to where we stood. (Italian post offices are set up with the workers one one side of a glass wall and the customers on the other.
When you talk to them it's through the little speaker part in the wall and you push money and papers under this glass tray to their side.)
She walked over to the ticker machine and directed me to take a number.
I obliged and took a number. She nodded approvingly and made her way back behind the glass and down to her end of the office. She sat down and shuffled a few papers. She then glanced at us, waiting alone in the post office, with our number in hand. She shuffled a few more papers and spoke with her neighbor.
Finally, she looked up at the number board and changed the number, which called me down to someone else's window. I love it.
When I tried to mail it from the base, I was astounded at the cost. I don't know why it was so pricey. Maybe packages are routed through NY first before they are sent to Europe? For the price, it seemed the box could go around the world a few times before reaching its final destination. Anyway....and read carefully for the funny part of the following thought process....I thought, "It might be faster/easier if I send it through the Italian post." (Did you catch it?)
So, off we went- now that I am a pro, I knew when they would be open.
When we walked in, there was a number dispensing ticker tape, but I didn't take a number because we were the only ones in the post office. Minutes passed, and we were STILL the only ones waiting in line. There were 3 clerks at their stations all of them shifting papers and looking busy.
One woman glanced up at me from the end of the office several times. We waited patiently.
The woman finally stood up, walked all the way down to my end of the office, and exited the glass parition to where we stood. (Italian post offices are set up with the workers one one side of a glass wall and the customers on the other.
When you talk to them it's through the little speaker part in the wall and you push money and papers under this glass tray to their side.)
She walked over to the ticker machine and directed me to take a number.
I obliged and took a number. She nodded approvingly and made her way back behind the glass and down to her end of the office. She sat down and shuffled a few papers. She then glanced at us, waiting alone in the post office, with our number in hand. She shuffled a few more papers and spoke with her neighbor.
Finally, she looked up at the number board and changed the number, which called me down to someone else's window. I love it.
Hmmm, looks like this post has been hanging around for a while, so, how about I freshend it up with some recent pics? Sure!
Comments
Being home won't be nearly as entertaining....you'll miss these kinds of experiences. You will!
Love and hugs, Mimi and Pap